Folding table.



PA'TBNTED AUG. 6, 1907.

J. A. KEGK.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED A2129. 1907.

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FOLDING TABLE.

-AIPPLIOA'IJION IILBD APR. 29. 1907.

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PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. KECK, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING- TABLE.

No. 862,484. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 6, 1907 Application filed April 29,1907. Serial No. 370.977.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. Knox, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to tables, more especially of that class which fold and the object of the same is to produce a work table in which the legs and cleats can be folded into the smallest possible compass against the top or can be firmly held in open condition.

The invention consists in the details of construction set forth below and shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the table set up; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of the table with the legs folded; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are bottom plan and edge views of the grooved plate.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the table top, and 2, 2 are transverse cleats to which are attached pairs of legs 3, 3. One pair is secured to the inside of its cleat and the other to the outside, and 4, 4 are hinges connecting the legs or the cleats (whichever member is innermost) with the table top, as best shown in-Fig. 1. 5, 5 are grooved plates, here shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as erimped as at (3, 6 with a groove 7 between the crimps; and these plates are secured to the lower face of the table top 1.

8, 8 are spring tongues secured as at 9 to the lower face of the table top at their outer ends, with their passed between the spring tongues and grooved plates as best seen in Fig. 2.

In use, the table is set up as best shown in the last named view, when the braces will hold the legs in upright position with their upper ends resting squarely l beneath the table top and supporting the weight of the latter. When it is desired to collapse the device or fold the legs, the inner ends of the spring tongues are bent downward, the centers of the bails are disengaged from the grooves in the plates and moved inward toward and past each other, and the pairs of legs are turned inward on their hinges. As seen in Fig. 4, this motion turns one pair of legs upward practically against the lower face of the table top, their cleats 2 beneath them, and it brings the other cleat practically upward against the lower face of the table top across the outer extremities of the first pair of legs, with its own pair of legs beneath it and their extremities against the first' mentioned cleatthereby condensing into the most limited space the legs and their cleats, inclosing the braces and plates as best seen in Fig. 3.

The parts are of any desired sizes, materials, proportions and shapes except as herein described; and such changes in details may be made as do not involve a departure from the principle of my invention.

What I claim as new is:

1. A work table comprising a top, two cleatsvtwo pairs of legs of which each pair is secured to relatively the same side of one of the cleats, hinges connecting the top with the innermost pair of legs, other hinges connecting the top with the innermost cleat in such position that when folded the pairs of legs lie against each other and each cleat across the ends of the legs of the other pair, and means for bracing the legs when the table is set up.

2. A work table comprising a top, two cleats,.two pairs of legs of which each pair is secured to relatively the same side of one of the cleats, hinges connecting the top with the innermost pair of legs, other hinges connecting the top with the innermost cleat in such position that when folded the pairs of legs lie against each other and each cleat across the ends of the legs of the other pair; combined with a hail pivoted at its extremities to each pair of legs and of such length that its center stands within the cleat of the opposite pair when the device is folded, and catches engaging the centers of said hails when the table is set up.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this, twenty sixth day of April, 1907.

JOHN A. KECK.

Witnesses GRACE K. WInLARp, ARriIUn .T. Knox. 

